Harper Adams in top three for graduate employment

Our performance is also the result of our close relationship with industry where students have the opportunity to take a placement year. This is greatly valued by both students and employers."

Harper Adams University College has been confirmed again as one the UK’s outstanding higher education institutions for graduate employment.

The University College is in the top three for its graduate employment rates, with a massive 98.3 per cent of students graduating from full-time first degrees in 2011 having moved into work or further study after six months, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) has revealed.

This rate was beaten only by two smaller, niche higher education institutions, the Institute of Education (100 per cent) and the School of Pharmacy (99 per cent).

The Harper Adams score exceeded the 93.2 per cent benchmark set out by HEFCE for the University College. The figures are derived from the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey. Nationally, 9.7 per cent of graduates from all courses were unemployed six months after completing their studies last year.

Commenting on the result, Principal Dr David Llewellyn said: “This is a strong indication of the performance of Harper Adams graduates, given that 96.5 per cent of them responded to the survey - the highest response rate out of more than 150 institutions included in the HESA data.

“It is a testament to the ‘Harper Spirit’ that so many of our graduates feel a sufficient connection to the University College to take part in the survey. We are delighted that they are doing so well. Our performance is also the result of our close relationship with industry where students have the opportunity to take a placement year. This is greatly valued by both students and employers.”